Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-06-16
Table Talk.

pace Wnelc III Is VI So nAVoiA '""0' ~
therefore, ought to be INDUCED In Tree
ly in the home at this time, when mem
bers of the family meet together. ~
meal eaten in sullen silence is of all
things the least to be desired by most
people. Few care to eat alone, and
many when away from home will often
90 without rather than eat without
company. To thoroughly enjoy meal
a busy person must have his mind away
from his work for the time being, but
the mind is difficult servant to man
age, wandering off wherever it Will,
usually into the very channel that he
has been trying to avoid. Some reo-
pie possess the happy faculty of lock-
ing their working. mind into the office
when leaving, or putting it away with
the kitchen dress, but there are very
few, for the majority of people carry
their work minds wherever they 50
Those who have a great deal to
do, and more particularly where they
are mental workers, find little pleasure
IN eating alone, for their mind is con-
tlnually working, and very often they
scarcely know what they are eating
CHEEKY company at meal hours to peo-
pie of this stamp is the best tonic that
can be taken in spite of itself, and
gives it that rest that should always
come with the meal hours.
In the home, then, where both ply
steal and mental workers meet on COM
mon ground, it is Of very great impor-
tance that all things should be done to
make the meal hours enjoyable and
resttul to all parties, and in no better
or plcasanter way can this be done than
the bringing to the table Of CHEEKY con-
versation. 1t may not be very brill
liant or witty, but if it serves the pur-
pose of diverting the mind, for even a
little while, it does as much us even the
brightest could do, and what more can
be desired? Pleasant anecdotes OF peo-
pie and places are interesting to most
every one, and instructive to the chill
dren, who are eager listeners to any
thing of this kind, questioning very
closely the why wherefore, and if pa
tiently answered, learning a great deal
Let the members of the family bring to
the table some little thing that has oc-
CURED under their own eyes no mat
ter how trlIling it may appear to be,
somebody will be sure to be interested
in it, for in family Of any size there
is a great diversity Of tastes, and what
may be Hat to one may be Of great IN
terest to another. The father can bring
home a fund Of sayings and doings from
his work, both amusing and instructive.
Little things that he has seen, stories
that he has heard, will be listened to
with eager attention at meal hours, by
the mother and children, who, though
taking no part in the busy business
world of which he is a member, yet are
pleased to have Il breath of 1t brought
into the home.
The mother, too, can have her little
tales Of something that has taken place
in the home, and which to the father
gives us much enjoyment as anything
he can bring with him. She can re
member what she thinks would be o
interest to him to repeat at the table
There is always something occurring il
the home, which to the mother, through
her familiarity with it, is not Of mucl
importance, but to person away from
home is frequently very lnteresting.-
Very often this is Of the humorous kind
which Of all things is the conversation
for the table, for the hcartier the laugl
the better the digestion. Children, nc
matter of what class or station, are ta
nous for their quaint, humorous saying
which, if recorded, would outvie many
Of the expressions Of our best-knowl
humorists. These expressions, if re
membered until meal hours and ther
repeated, will be found very entertain
ing to those Of the family who are away
from home all day. Then the littl,
ones are sure to have some little story
to tell of school life or home, and fire
quently such tales are very enjoyable
to both children and grown people.
Never find fault or chide anyone
either child or adult, at the table, un.
less there arc very grave reasons for sc
doing, and then do it as quietly as pos
sible. Some mothers hoard up through
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